Brush structure



March 4, 1930. J. THACHER 1,749,744

BRUSH STRUCTURE Fil'ed Feb. 1, 1926 Patented Mar. 4, 1930 'UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JOHN J. TEACHER, OF WETHEBSFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOTHE FULLER BBUSE' COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT BRUSH STRUCTURE Application filed February 1, 1926. SerialNo. 85,086.

and an object of the invention, among others,

is the provision of means for causing thebristles or similar materialcom ressed in the brush structure to flare outwardly to a maximumdegree.

One form of brush structure embodying my invention and in theconstruction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well asothers, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved brush structure withthe end of the same shown in section.

Figure 2 is an end view.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a piece of thecore strip alone.

Figure 4 is a detail view of portions of brush rolls in position tofasten portions of the brush structure together. I

Figure 5 is a view of a fragment of the brush structure with partsbroken away to illustrate the closing in'of the sides of the channelpiece in the cutting operation to secure the bristles from coming out atthe ends of the I cut off strip.

Figure 6 is a detail view in section illustrating a modified form of theinvention, scale enlarged.

When bristles are gripped between the sides of a sheet metal channelsection they may not flare outwardly as much as desired, the gri of thechannel sides against the bristles ten ing to hold them together abovethe channel so that the brush area presented by the bristle ends iscomparatively small. 'In some types of brushes this flared efiect isdesired, and the present invention, according to one of its features, isdirected to an improved structure with a brush area, at the bristle endswhich is comparatively lar e. a

A channel strip is preferably rolled from a simple strip of sheet metalin channel form to receive bristles 8. These may be suppliedtransversely of the channel section or strip and deposited with a corestrip 9 so that the bristles are folded about the core to projectupwardly from the channel strip 7 The sides of the latter may then berolled against the bristles to bind the assembled parts together bypressure. as indicated in igure 4. The sheet metal is preferably stiffenoughand made of a body like soft steel so that the parts arepermanently set under pressure by metal working rolls to that holdingpositionshown in which the bristles are compressed in the strip. Theseoperations of making the structure may be performed by hand, but the:are particularly well adapted to machine operation. The structure is sodesigned that it may be made continuousl in one machine with greateconomy. uch a machine is indicated in copendingapplication of SerialNumber 75,219, filed December '14, 1925, by Henry Cave.

The core strip 9 may be of the same kind of material as the channelstrip 57. It is so formed that its opposite sides extending intransverse directions will cause the bristle body outside of the channelstrip to flare outwardly so that the outer ends will comprise a surfacemuch larger in area than a cross section of such body at or near thebody of the channel stri This result may be attained in several di erentways. In one form of construction the core strip '9 may be made with anouter and inner enlargement connected by a comparatively thin web, sothat when viewed in sect-ion it is shaped generally like a dumb-bell.core strip in a continuous operation just as the channel strip form maybe given to the stri 7 as the improved structure is made.

vahen the brush parts are finally assembled, asindicated in Figures 1and 2, the enlargement 1O lies with the bristl'w folded about it in thebottom of the channel. In this special form, and in which the part 10 isconnected to the outer enlargement 11 by an intermediate integral web12, the part 10 acts with the web 12 to position the enlargement or part11 for a particular function which is important.

It will be seen that the enlargement or part 11 is anchored in positionto positively. divide the bristles justas they emerge from theconstricted pressure neck of the channel strip holding them therein.This results in positively This form may be given to. the

projecting the bristle ends remote area than would be the case if thepart 11 were not present in the structure. Not only are the bristlesflared outwardly, but the means for accomplishing these results is lo-"cated where the greatest effect can be produced with the leastinterference with the binding function of the bristles in use. Theindividual bristle lengths above the channel strip are preferably leftentirely free to bend back and forth, but when not bent their naturallyspread out condition is imposed by the part lland the side portions ofthe channel strip 7.

The intermediate part 12 of the core strip is preferably of thinweb-like form so as to pass downwardly through the constricted neckportion of thechannel strip with the least possible interference withthe preferred function of the neck portion. This function is to so holdthe bristles compressed that their resiliency will maintain the pressurestrain against the channel section which is desirable to hold all thebristles against slipping lengthwise in the'neck portion. This neckportion is preferably designed inconstricted form to gradually releasethis pressure strain in the direction toward the edges of the channelstrip. It is much better to have the holding pressure on the bristlesbetween the side portions of the channel strip and the intermediateportion of the core strip than to permit this holding pressure to extendbetween the edges of the channel strip and the outer enlargement 11 ofthe core strip. There is, of course, some pressure of the bristlesagainst the part 11, but it is a directing pressure where the bristlesare loose enough to readily accommodate themselves to the desiredflaring action without tendency to break in bend- T have accomplishedwith this arrangement a structure of one channel strip and a corestripwhich will do the work of substantially two channel strips and withbetter efficiency. For illustration, consider the cooperation of eachside of the channel strip with its adjacent side of the core strip.These twosides function about as one channel strip would. But there aretwo pairs of such sides so there is a function about equal to twochannel strips. The fact that two channel strips could hardly be made ofas small bulk as a single channel strip and core gives.an.additionaladvantage to make the arrangement of this invention preferred in manytypes of brushes. There is, of course, the additional and very greatadvantage of my improved structure of simplicity in manufacture.

My invention contemplates other forms of core strip that will act toimpart a flaring form to .the bristles," one of such instances beingillustrated in Figure 6, in which the inner enlargement 10 is dispensedwith and in which construction rivets 13 passed through the sidesof thechannel piece and web may or may not be employed.

The ends of any particular lengths of the I improved structure may beformed as shown. in Figure 5 with lips 14 that may be produced in acutting operation after the brush strip has passed beyond the rolls15-16, this cutting being accomplished as by means of cutters 17 wherebya continuously built up length.

of the brush structure may be separated into pieces of any desiredlengths, and in which action of the cutters the sides of the channelstrip are compressed or pinched inwardly toward the core strip,thereby'forming the lips 14 that provide an effective enclosure so thatthe bristles will not be released at the ends of the channels.

My improved brush structure has now been described in some of itspreferred forms which possess many advantages as a desirable structure,and which are particularly adapted to facilitate the operation ofeconomical brush manufacture, but Idesire to.

have it understood that the structure shown is only illustrative andthat the invention may be carried out by such other means and applied tosuch uses other than those above set out as fall within the scope of theappended claims. i

I claim 4 1. A brush structure comprising a sheet metal channel strip, acore strip separately formed from the channel strip and-having a beadededge spaced between the side edges of the channel strip, bristlessubstantially filling the channel strip and arranged on opposite sidesof the core strip and spacing its beaded edge from said side edges, thesides of said channel strip beingpermanently set under pressure tobind-the bristles against said core strip whereby the beaded edge of thelatter spreads the bristles bound by'the channel strip.

2. A brush structure comprising a sheet metal channelstrip formed with aconstricted neck having an enlarged throat therein, a core strip,bristles folded. around the core strip and substantially filling thechannel,.-

the permanent set of the channel strip propressure along saidconstricted neck portion of said channel section with one enlarged edgeportion ofthe core strip arranged out v bristles in two distlnct coursesseparated by wardlyand the other inwardly of the neck portion in thechannel strip.

4. A brush structure comprisin a channel strip of sheet metal, bristlesfolded lengthwise and substantially fillin said channel,

a core strip located in the ciannel between the folds of the bristles todivide said folds and having side faces to cooperate with the side facesof the channel section, said channel section being permanently set tohold the dividing the folds of the bristles, said separate strip beingformed to provide two distinct passages at the'mouth of the channelstrip and between the lips thereof for the bristle extensions from saidchannel and to project said bristles in fan shape from the channel. 7

6. A brush structure comprising a channel strip of sheet metal, thecross section of the channel presenting a constricted pressure neck, aseparate core strip of sheet metal in said channel strip, the crosssection of the core strip presenting a rounded enlargement at each endjoined by a thin web, bristles folded around the core section andfilling said'channel with the web of the core section located in theconstricted neck of the channel, said channel strip having its sidespermanently set under .pressure against the resiliency of the bristlesto hold the parts to ether.

A brush structure including a channel strip having a channel, bristlesprojectin outwardly in two divided masses from sai channel, and a memberlocated between the two masses of said bristles and having a spreadinenlargement beyond the channel strip an also a positioning enlargementto retain the member in place between said folds.

8. A brush structure includin a channel strip having a channel, bristlesolded withm the channel and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a memberlocated within the folds of said bristles to separatethem with in saidchannel and forme beyond the chanbristles and the core strip to retainthem in place. a

10. A brush structure including a channel strip, bristles folded withinand projecting' from the channel of said strip, and a core strip havingedge enlargements positioned within the folds of said bristles andlocated with one ed e holding the bristles within the channel am? withanother edge located outwardly of the channel to spread the bristleslaterally after leaving the stri 11. A brush structure inclu ing achannel strip, bristles folded within and projecting from the channel ofsaid strip, and a transversely elongated core stri having its inner edgeenlarged and positioned within the folds of said bristles, the channelstrip outwardly of said enlarged edge being constricted to preventwithdrawal of the bristles and the core strip. 4

12. A brush structure comprising a channel strip, bristles folded withinand substantially filling the channel, and a core located within thechannel inside of the bristle mass and between thefolds of said bristlessaid bristles being held in the strip by the clamping pressure imposedby the ristle mass between thepermanently set and self retaining sidesof the channel and the core, said core being thickened at its-outer edgeand extending beyond the sides of the channel to spread the bristlesbeyond the channel.

JOHN J. THACHER.

nel strip to spread the bristles-beyond said 9. brush structurecomprising a sheet metal channel strip formed with'a constricted neckand separated lips, a core strip extending outwardly between said hps,and birstles folded about the core strip within said channel and havingtheir folds sepaj rated by said core strip, the width of said neck beingless than the combined thickness vof the portions of the bristles atthe'fold and the core strip arranged therein whereby constant pressureis maintained upon the

